Panel sign frame



July 8, 1958 G. M. PFUNDT PANEL SIGN FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.1, 1955 .fi 5 m mm N a... g M w w FF m w 9 L w w A ii 4 i v| JL (1 L fi9 H A TTORNEYS.

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United States Patent 1 2,841,902 T APJEL SIGN FRAME George M. lifundt,Churchville, Pa. Application September 1, 1955, Serial No. 531,957 2Claims. (1. 411 125) This invention relates to structures commonly usedfor providing space for advertising or other display material. itparticularly relates to that type of sign display struc ture adapted torest upon the ground. Display sign c is type are commonly placed in theopen, along roadways and highways, and particularly suit able for use inroadside gasoline stations. Since the display space necessarily presentsa large surface area, these structures must be adapted to resist wind.They must also be sufiiciently sturdy to withstand occasional bumpingand the like from motor vehicles.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide anoutdoor panel sign frame which will be surlicicntly light to betransportable without lifting machinery, but which will resist windforces and withstand heavy structural stress caused by occasionalcontact with motor vehicles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and drawings.

Fig. l is a front view of a panel sign frame made in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan View of the panel sign frame of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the panel sign frame of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view partially broken andpartially cut away along the line of lV-IV VllVll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view along the line Jill-VIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view along the line lX-IX of Fig. 2.

A panel sign frame made in accordance with the invention is shown inFig. 1. The display panel 10 is supported by means of pins 11 and 12from the vertical columns 13 and 14 respectively. The columns 13 and 14are supported at their bases by the foot bars 15 and 16 respectively,which are connected by the cross bar 17.

The panel sign frame is adapted to withstand relatively high wind byvirtue of the rotatable suspension of the display panel 10 from thevertical columns 13 and 14. As shown in the upper part of Fig. 4, thevertical column 14 is provided with interior opening 20 formed in theshape shown in Fig. 6. Column 13 is provided with a similar opening 21.The upper part of the opening 20 is adapted to receive the cylindricalpin 12. The pins 11 and 12 are recessed at 22 to enable the pins to fitthe lower part of openings 20 and 21 as shown in Figs. 4 and'6. Therecess 22 is slightly wider than the thickness of the column material,enabling the pins 11 and 12'to straddle the column at the baseof theopenings 20 and 21. Pins 11 and 12 are attached to the display panel 10at opposite sides thereof as shown in Fig. 1. The display panel 10 maybe removed from the vertical columns 13 and 14 by raising the displaypanel until the pins 11 and 12 are in the upper enlarged portion of theopenings 20 and 21 and then sliding the display panel to either side,withdrawing the pins 11 and 12 from the openings 20 and 21.

As shown in Fig. 7, vertical column 14 is provided with a reinforcingchannel member which spans the ii atenlfed July 55, 1958 extended legsof the column 14. The column 13 is likewise provided with a similarreinforcing member. Cross beam 17 is reinforced by the channel section41 as shown in Fig. 8. Foot bar 15 is reinforced by channel membersimilar reinforcement is provided in foot bar 16. The reinforcements inmembers 13, 14, iii, 16 and 17 conside y increase the strength of thesemembers with little additional weight. it will be noted that in eachcase the reinforcing member connects the extended legs of the channelshaped beam thereby preventing the legs from spreading under pressureupon the top surface of the channel members. The reinforcements areeasily assembled by welding them across the legs of the structuralmembers.

The connection between the vertical column 14, cross bar 17 and foot bar16 is illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 4. This connection issimilar to that between vertical column 13, cross bar 17 and foot bar15. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the vertical column 14 and its associatedreinforcing member 40 are formed to fit over the end of the cross bar17, contacting it at the points 32, 33 and 34. The end of the cross bar17, its reinforcing member 41 and the lower end of the vertical column14 rest upon the upper surface of bracket 45 which straddles foot bar 16at that point. Aligned openings are provided through the cross bar 17and its reinforcing member 41, bracket 45, and foot bar 16 and itsreinforcing member 42. Threaded plate 46 is fitted in the opening ofcross bar 17 and is adapted to receive bolt 47. The head of the bolt 47is separated from reinforcing member 42 by the Washer 48. By means ofthis construction, a rigid connection is provided between the principalstructural members of the panel sign frame. The entire assembly is thusaccomplished by means of the two threaded bolts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a panel sign, a frame provided with horizontal supporting legseach comprising elongated channel members, reinforcing channel membersdisposed across the opening of each of said elongated members,reinforcing brackets disposed across the backs of said legs, said legsand reinforcing members having aligned openings therein adapted toreceive fastening means and a transverse channel member having openingsat its ends aligned with said first mentioned openings, fastening meansadapted to pass through said aligned openings to connect s aidtransverse member to said horizontal legs, vertical columns attached toeach of the said fastening means and extending upward from saidsupporting leg, a tapered opening in the upper portion of each of saidcolumns, a display panel, pins attached to said display panel extendingoutwardly toward said openings, said pins adapted to be inserted in saidopening and retained in the tapered parts thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises athreaded plate disposed in the opening in said transverse channel memberand. an elongated threaded bolt disposed through the openings in saidhorizontal supporting leg and adapted to engage: said threaded plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

